Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed 2017

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Watford based gastroenterologist Saliha billed herself as one of the most boring people anyone could meet, but thankfully her recipes were anything but. She drew on her Pakistani heritage for inspiration but always delivered a new twist and said she wanted to combine her love of cooking with her medical background to help those with dietary requirements.

She managed to do just that by cutting down her hospital hours and spending Mondays and Tuesdays cooking and developing recipes for her book, Khazana, out in September 2018.

On a Friday after work, she also travels to food festivals doing pop up restaurants.

Jane Devonshire 2016

Mum of four Jane revealed at the end of the series that she'd overcome a 10 year battle with cancer, which left viewers in tears and full of praise for the her. She cooked food inspired by that she'd had as a child, including a winkle sandwich... She went on to start up her own website full of recipes and blog posts and spent some time working at La Gavroche and other top restaurants with big name chefs. She's also appeared at food shows nationwide and has written a cookbook with gluten and hassle free recipes. She devotes one day a week to supporting cancer charities.

Simon Wood 2015

Simon Wood has his own restaurant in Manchester (Image: John Alevroyiannis/Sunday Mirror)

Former data manager Simon started cooking from a young age, so it was his dream come to true when he won the final in 2015. After winning he was appointed executive chef at Oldham Athletic FC and Oldham Event Centre. He has since opened his own restaurant, Wood, in Manchester, whose menu features the pudding he made in the final.

Ping Coombes 2014

Winning was Ping's dream come true (Image: PA)

Full time mum Ping entered the competition not even thinking she'd get a place. After winning, she's been making appearances at food festivals, doing pop-ups and is a TV regular. She released her debut book Malaysia, which promoted her love of her country's food, in 2016. She is also consultant chef of of Chi Kitchen - the Pan Asian restaurant in Debenhams, Oxford Street. Her aim is to spread her love of Malaysian food throughout the UK.

Natalie Coleman: 2013

Natalie has been busily immersed in the world of cooking ever since winning (Image: BBC)

The former credit controller and DJ had tough competition from her fellow finalists Welshmen Larkin Cen and Dale Williams . But win she did. Taking the title enabled her to work at top-class restaurants such as Le Gavroche and gain work experience with chefs including Tom Kerridge, Roux Jr and Marcus Wareing. She's also run cookery lessons for children, launched MasterChef: The Finalists book with Larkin and Dale and has written her own cookbook, Winning Recipes for Everyday. She returned to Masterchef as a guest judge.

Shelina Permalloo: 2012

Shelina said she could bring 'sunshine to a plate' (Image: PA)

Shelina published her first cookbook Sunshine on a Plate in 2013 and her second The Sunshine Diet: Get some Sunshine into your Life, Lose Weight and Feel Amazing in 2015. The former charity worker's cooking is heavily inspired by the land of her heritage - Mauritius - and she has shared her love of the Indian Ocean island at foodie events across the country and on TV.

Shelina has catered for private events and has also opened her own restaurant, Lakaz Maman Mauritian Street Kitchen, in Southampton. She has shared her recipes on shows such as This Morning, Lorraine and Sunday Brunch.

Tim Anderson: 2011

Tim now owns and runs Nanban

London-based freelance chef, food writer and consultant Tim impressed the judges with his knowledge and use of Far Eastern dishes in the 2011 series of the show. After winning, he gained experience in the kitchens of Le Gavroche and the Fat Duck. American-born Tim also became an ambassador for Malaysian food and has opened up Nanban, a pop-up eaterie which specialises in Japanese food. He released his first cookbook, Nanban: Japanese Soul Food, in 2013 and two years later opened his restaurant and cocktail bar Nanban in Brixton.

Dhruv Baker: 2010

Dhruv has been very successful since taking the title

In the 2010 series, amateur chef Dhruv brought with him culinary expertise from two distinct areas: Mexico, where he was born, and India, where he was raised. He too, has gained valuable experience from renowned restaurant Le Gavroche and now co-owns catering firm Earlsfield Kitchen. Dhruv is also involved with MasterChef Travel, a collection of culinary holidays aimed at travellers with a passion for food. He's worked for Waitrose TV, published his first book Spice in 2014 and opened his gastro pub The Jolly Gardeners in Earlsfield in the same year.

Mat Follas: 2009

Mat has experienced several business ventures involving cooking

Series winner Mat launched his own restaurant The Wild Garlic in Dorset but then moved on to a solo venture in the same county. The New-Zealand born chef's new restaurant, Mat Follas at The Casterbridge was in the county town of Dorchester until he opened Bramble Cafe and Deli in 2016. He has released three books and runs classes on foraging for wild food, plus writes for national publications.

James Nathan: 2008

James left his career as a barrister

Former barrister James had held down a number of jobs in the food industry since being crowned MasterChef. He worked at a London oyster bar, at the Bath Priory and at Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant in Padstow before opening his own restaurant and a private catering business . His restaurant The Green Room opened at the Retallack Resort and Spa in Cornwall until he closed it in 2016 and took over as head chef at The Endoc Hotel in Rock, Cornwall.

Steven Wallis: 2007

Steven's been a huge hit since being catapulted into the professional world of cooking

The world was definitely Steven's oyster after he picked up the title back in 2007. He travelled extensively after his win, blogging about his foodie adventures in The Urban Foodie. He's worked as a writer and private chef and has collaborated with Sainsbury's, Rachel's Organic and The Co-operative and set up specialist consultancy Tastebillion.

Peter Bayless: 2006

Peter's an established cookery writer now

With cookbook My Father Could Only Boil Cornflakes under his wing, Peter writes for food magazines and teaches at cookery schools. Like many of the other MasterChef winners, he spent some time working at Le Gavroche. He also enjoys holding cookery demonstrations and masterclasses and has appeared on The Good Food Show.

Thomasina Miers: 2005

Thomasina has been hugely successful

Thomasina changed roles after taking home the MasterChef crown. The former food writer became a TV celebrity after appearing in her own programmes on Channel 4. After penning a number of cookery books and columns for national newspapers and magazines, she branched out to establish her own restaurant, the Mexican themed Wahaca. It's been so successful the brand now has 25 branches and two street kitchens. Thomasina also has four books under her belt.